Textile drafting and spinning



Nov. 28, 1950 E. G. WHITTAKER 2,532,275

TEXTILE DRAFTING AND spmmrc Filed Feb. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I nven? a 2 Edward G. Waifiakez:

E. G. WHITTAKER TEXTILE DRAFTING AND SPINNING Nov, 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1948 Invenior: Edward, GWWuLEZafi e 2", 5, W/flmw O 1950 a G. WHITTAKER 2,532,275

mum DRAFTING AND SPINNING Filed Feb. 20, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov 28, 1950 UNITED sra'res PATENT orncs TEXTILE DRAFTING AND SPINNING Edward G. Whittaker, New Rochelle, N. Y., as-

signor to Anselm and Company, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application February 20, 1948, Serial No. 9,694

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to textile roll frames for drafting and spinning fibrous slivers, rovings and other strands including especially cotton and other vegetable fibres, synthetic staple filaments and mixtures thereof. It aims to improve the construction, arrangement and general emciency of the strand-engaging elements of spinning and other roll frames, particularly of the type employing aprons or endless bands at one or more drafting stages.

In the drawings illustrating by way of example one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view with parts in section, showing a roll and apron stand assembly;

Fig. 2 is a similar view on a larger scale of a roll and apron cradle unit of the Fig. 1 apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the roll and apron arrangement of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 4 and 4a are side and top views of a main cradle or carrier;

Figs. 5 and 5a are side and top views of a top front cover; and

Figs. 6 and 6a are side and front views of a separate top cover for interlocking with that of Figs. 5 and 5a.

The apparatus of the invention is particularly adapted for spinning frames wherein the advancing strand received in roving or sliver form isdelivered to a spindle, generally with an attendant relatively long or high drafting operation. In the broader aspects various novel features of the invention are applicable to yarn and thread drafting purposes other than upon spinping frames.

In Fig. 1 the table of the machine seen at I has bolted to it the aligned series oi. roll stands one of which is designated generally at 2 having an inclined bed 3. In this instance the stands 2 accommodate three pairs of drafting rolls, those of the middle pair having encompassing endless bands or aprons. The lower rolls of the several pairs are designated at 6, 8 and In in the front, middle and back positions respectively. The upper members include the top front roll I, the top middle roll 9 and the relatively large top back or break draft roll II. The endless band or apron elements comprise bottom and top aprons l2 and i3 respectively engaged about the bottom and top middle rolls 8 and 9 with cooperatively opposed 'runs leading forwardly toward the nip of the front roll pair 6, "I. The adjacent forward portions of these aprons respectively pass oppositely around lower and upper apron extenders II, It presenting them in guiding and drafting relation to the advancing strand S. As indicated in the diagrammatic Fig. 3 a set of top front and middle rolls 1, 9 and aprons l2, l3 are supplied for each thread or strand, each such set having its individual cradle or carrier to be described.

The lower front roll 8 is held in an open top bearing formation l6 shown integrally formed with the stand 2. The lower middle and back rolls 8 and Ill have similar support in bearing blocks I1 and i8 respectively adjustably secured by bolts Ila, I8a for variable spacing along a way on the bed 3 of the stand. The lower rolls are mounted on and driven by shafting extending lengthwise the machine. The top back roll ll. of relatively large diameter. in the illustrated example may be of a length for cooperation with a plurality of the axially aligned lower back rolls Hi. It is journalled in cap bars IS on a Shaft 20 rotatably supported in a bracket 2| vertically adjustably secured as at 22 at the rear face of the back bearing block I8.

The rear bearing block it also provides bearing support for the traverse bar 23 extending lengthwise along the several roll stands of which but one is shown in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that a spinning frame such as represented may have up to sixty or more stands with rolls in axial line. The traverse bar 23 is reciprocated lengthwise of the frame in the known manner and, has adjustably mounted on it the rear trumpets or condensers 24 through which the silver, roving or other strand S is introduced between the rear pair of rolls [0, l I.

As an important feature of the invention the top front and middle rolls I, 9 and the top apron I! along with both the lower and upper apron extenders ll, l5, are commonly mounted on a carrier or cradle with which they form a single assembly unit. Each such assembly is unitarily loaded or operatively tensioned with respect to the lower rolls and is unitarily demountable and replaceable. The loading means may be of any preferred type, a weight W being herein indicated for the purpose.

The carrier or main supporting element 30 of the cradle for one of'the upper assembly units is seen separately in Fig. 4. It comprises a pair of laterally spaced sheet-metal or other platelike parts, each including front and rear portions 3|, 32 and a pendent central load-connecting portion 33. The side plates 3l-33 of each cradle unit are connected by aback cross-piece 84 and a lower hook-attaching cross-member 35. The front plate portions 3i have open-top bearing slots 36 for the hubs of the front top roll 1. The rear plate portions 32 being of somewhat greater vertical extent have correspond ingly deeper bearing slots 3? for the middle top roll 9. Between the bearing slots 36, 87 the twin plates of the cradle to are formed with a generally rectangular recess 38 extending down from the upper edge of each plate, for mounting the two apron extenders it, to, Figs. 1 and 2. The forward walls of these extender seats to have each a rearwardly projecting nose 39 at the upper level, limiting upward movement of the upper extender it during use but permitting ready removal. The front portions iii of the cradle plates each have at the outer face a boss oil for pivotal mounting of the front cradle cover so, Figs. and 5a. Similar bosses M on the rear plate portions 32 adjacent the lower ends of the bear slots i provide pivotal connection for the rear cradle cover 80, Figs. 6 and 6c.

The cradle elements including the front and rear covers 59, 50,, are seen in Figs. 1 and 2 as sembled in active use position. Noting partiou= larly Fig. 2, also Figs. 5 and on. the front cover 50 is of a saddle-like form comprising side pieces 3t spaced to receive the front top roll 77 between them and connected at the rear by a top cross piece 54. This front cover so is pivotally attached at its front end by hearing apertures til receiving the cradle bosses so, adapting it to be swung between the closed operative position shown and an upwardly and forwardly raised position in which the front top roll l and forward portion of the top apron it are fully exposed. Down-opening rounded recesses 52 in the side pieces 63 behind the pivot points iii adapt this front top cover or saddle so to serve as a keeper for the front top roll 7!. Each side piece 53 of this front cover so is notched at the upper rear portion to form a locking shoulder 55 for cooperation with latch means on the rear top cover 663.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 6c, the rear top cover or saddle element til also comprises a pair of side walls iii cross connected by an integral or other strip 62 having a finger piece iii projecting upwardly at the rear edge. Bearing apertures fit near the lower end of side walls 59 are pivotally receivable on the bosses at of the cradle 30, Fig. 4;. Above and behind the pivot points 6 5 the side walls lid each have a hook-like formation defining a downwardly and rearwardly open rounded recess t5 providing hold down or keeper means engageable over the hubs of the middle top roll 9. The upper front portions of the side walls oil of this back cover to each present a nose or latch 8d proportioned and arranged to seat over the corresponding locking shoulders 55 of the front cover 50, in the operative position of the parts as in Figs. 1 and 2.

The entire carrier or cradle assembly including the main elements 3t, 59 and 50 together with the front and middle top rolls '5, 9 and the upper apron l3 bears yieldably upon the corresponding lower front and middle rolls 6 and 8, and is operatively held by the weighting or other loading means to be described. The down pull of the load in effect imposes an opposite up-reacting component on the upper rolls. The upthrusting force at the hubs of the top front roll I is resisted by the overlying walls of the recesses 52 of the front cover 50 which tends to be swung forwardly. counterclockwise, with a lifting component on the locking shoulders 55. The similar action at the hubs of the middle top roll 9 urges them upwardly against the walls of the rear cover recesses 65. Since the latter is offset behind the rear cover pivot points 84 a counterclockwise turning moment is imposed on the rear cover 60 urging the forwardly projecting latch 56 thereof downwardly in opposition to the up force on the front cover 50. These two cover or saddle elements 50, 50 consequently are held in an interlocked roll-and-apron-retaining position.

The described interlock of the two top cover or saddleelements 50, 60 affords an extremely simple but positive securement for the upper rolls and apron, but one under which they are instantly accessible for inspection, free removal and replacement. For this purpose it is needed only to push back the rear saddle part 60 by pressure against the finger piece 53-, disengaging the latch 66 from over the locking shoulder 55 of the front saddle 50. The latter may then be swung upwardly toward the operative, completely exposing the front top roll I and forward portion of the top apron I3. The rear saddle 60 also may then be dropped down, exposing the middle top roll 9 and the remainderof the apron. Either or both rolls 1 and 9 may then be freely lifted from the open bearing slots 35, t! of the carrier 30. With equal ease the upper apron extender [5 may be released and withdrawn from the guide seats 38 of the carrier, by tilting the rear edge of the extender upwardly and freeing the front edge from the hold-down noses at. This also leaves the lower apron extender M free for removal.

In this connection it will be noted that in the installed and locked position of the parts as in Figs. 1 and 2 the lower edge portions of the sides 53 of the front saddle 5U lie across and hold down or limit upward movement of the upper apron extender i5, thereby also downwardly retaining the lower apron extender l4 with the opposed drafting runs of the two aprons passing between the extender pair. These extenders l4 and I5 are separate cross members spanning between and of a length to seat on the side plates 3| of the cradle. Each extender has a fiat bar portion with rounded front edge about which the corresponding apron 12, I3 passes. The upper extender l5 has vertical end flanges I50. receivable at the outer faces of the cradle side plates, retaining the extender in the direction axially of the rolls. These flanges I50 of the upper extender l5 are adapted to bear upon the underlying projecting ends of the lower extender l4, maintaining the two in appropriate vertically spaced relation. The lower extender H has a notched lug Ma at one or both ends for seating over the lower wall of the guide recess 38 of the corresponding cradle plate 3!, retaining this lower extender id in the direction axially of the rolls.

The entire upper roll and apron assembly unit as previously indicated is yieldably held with respect to the lower rolls, subject to the gravity and/or spring load imposed. For this purpose there is provided a fixed fulcrum and guide element herein shown as a fulcrum bar 10 disposed between the bearing members IS, F! on the stand 2 for the front and middle lower rolls 6, 8 and extending in on or more sections substantially the full length of the frame, paralleling the roll axis. This fulcrum bar 10 has a downwardly tapered and rounded lower edge defining the fixed fulcrum as at II for the individual loading means such as the weight arm W, herein one for each upper roll and apron assembly unit.

The fulcrum bar is so located that the pendent lower portion 33 and bottom cross piece 35 of the several cradles 30 fit closely adjacent the rear face of the bar 10 for guiding thereby. For this purpose the fulcrum bar 10 has vertical rib formations 12 at appropriately spaced points along it. The front edge of the bottom cross member 35 for each cradle 30 has a guide notch 35a, Fig. 4a, for engaging over the corresponding rib I2 of the fulcrum bar I0.

The cradle bottom cross pieces 35 herein also provide for mounting of the weight-attaching and supporting hook-latch I5, Fig. l, and particularly Fig. 2. Such hook comprises an inverted generally U-shaped element, the two legs of which are passed downwardly through openings 35b provided for the purpose in the bottom crosspiece 35, Fig. 4a, the closed end of the U seating on the latter. Desirably a leaf spring 352:, Fig. 2, is set on the cross piece 35 below the closed end of the U-hook I5. The two legs of the U-hook are bent reversely as at I6, Fig. 2, to form an open hook-seat as at 11 for holding the weight W and its connective arm 82 in active position, with capacity for instant freeing of the weight and unloading of the entire cradle assembly unit for bodily removal thereof as a whole.

As best seen in Fig. 2 the arm 82 of the weight W has at the front end a curved finger portion 80 for pivotal fulcral engagement below the fulcral edge II of the bar I0. At a point spaced slightly behind the fulcrum bar 10 the weight arm 82 carries a projecting cross-pin 8I receivable in the hook-seat 11 provided by the two legs of the supporting hook-latch I5. The main mass of the weight W, a portion only of which appears in Figs. 1 and 2, is behind the seat ll of the hooklatch I5, to the right in said views. Thus the fulcrum bar I0 and the given cradle assembly and weight W therefor are comprised in a leverage system of the second class. The legs of the U- hook-latch 15 are extended to provide a manually engageable trip I9 in a position readily accessible to the operative for unhooking the weight arm and thereby immediately relieving the entire load from the top roll and apron carrier assembly. The latter may then be inspected or cleaned by opening the top covers 50, 60, or may bodily be lifted freely away from the bottom rolls 6. 8 and apron l2 upon release of the lower roll extender I4 in the manner already described.

The cradle or top carrier assembly also incorporates thread guide means between the aprons l2, I3 and the front rolls 6, I. For this purpose each pair of carrier plates 30 has mutually aligned apertures 42, Fig. 4, for receiving the opposite ends of a U-shaped wire 43, Fig. 2, on which the thread guides proper 44 are strung. These guides are of a forwardly tapered formation conforming them to the space at the bight of the front roll pair 6, I and whereby the threads are accurately guided closely behind and substantially up to the bight.

Clearer 0r scavenger means desirably is provided for both the lower and the upper members of the roll lines. For the purpose I have herein shown rotating clearer or scavenger rolls releasably presented in operative position by yieldable holder devices of novel construction and arrangement. Three such holders herein service the entire series of bottom and top rolls, the respective holders being disposed in pairs, one

at each end of each pair of cradle assemblies, the rotary clearers accordingly being of a length to cooperate with two aligned rolls or roll bosses. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom front clearer holder 90 of each pair thereof comprises an integral piece of sheet metal including a slotted attaching foot 9| and a reversely forwardly and upwardly bent portion 92 providing an open bearing 93 and a finger piece 94. The front bottom clearer or scavenger roll 95 has the opposite ends of its supporting shaft rotatively set into the holder bearings 93. These rotary clearer members are covered with a lint-collecting material such as denim or preferably plush and serve to collect the loose fly, to preserve broken ends and to aid in preventing lap-ups. The bases IiI of these front bottom clearer holders 90 are adjustably attached to the stand as by a bolt 96.

The rear bottom holders I00 are of similar strip or spring metal form each including an attaching foot IOI slotted for adjustable attachment to the roll stand as by the bolt I02. Each holder I00 has a forwardly and upwardly extended arm portion I03 terminating in a, rearwardly open bearing I04. The rotary clearer I05 presented by this holder means I00 cooperates with both the lower middle and the lower back rolls 8 and I0. These holders I00 further are formed with finger pieces I06 for manually depressing them to release the scavenger roll I05.

The holding means for the top cleare-s comprises a pair of duplex yieldable bearing and holding guides or retainers, one at each end of each twin cradle assembly. Each such retainer includes a front leg IIO, a rear leg III, and a connecting base plate II2. This latter is slotted for adjustable mounting on the corresponding middle bearing block I! of the roll stand 2 as by a screw, Fig. l. The front leg I I0 has a reversely bowed upper portion II3 for positioning engagement with the shaft of the top front scavenger or clearer roll H5 shown as of somewhat larger diameter than the others mentioned. The upper end of the leg H0 is further bent to form a detent and finger piece I I4. The rear leg II I of the holder as illustrated is substantially straight, terminating at its upper end in a detent and finger piece H6. The associated clearer roll Ill is of a diameter to seat in the space between the top middle and back rolls 9 and I I in cooperative engagement with each and with the top apron I3.

It will be understood that each of the scavenger or clearer rolls 95, I05, H5 and H1 is driven from the respective roll or rolls with which it has surface engagement, with some degree of wiping action. Each of them may readily be demounted for cleaning and replacement, by manually deflecting the corresponding holder 90, I00, IIO, III through the medium of the described finger pieces disposed for convenient access by the attendant.

From the foregoing description in connection with the drawings it will be evident that only the rear roll II of the upper set is held by a cap bar in the conventional sense, and that the intermediate and front top rolls 9 and l are mounted independently of the rear top roll. Further, the cradle by which the forward top rolls: I and 9 are held is neither fixed to the machine frame nor does it rest on a reduced shaft portion or neck of the lower rolls. By contrast the front tandem of top rolls 1 and 9 is independently and commonly held in the disclosed novel cradle unit subject jointly to a single loading means and the top roll and top apron load is directly received by the corresponding bottom roll and apron elements. The disclosed unitary supporting and loading of the front and next adjacent top elements permits the guiding and drafting to be effected more closely up to the bight of the front roll pair, while the provision of one such upper tandem unit for each sliver or roving affords individual control for each spindle.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in my following claims:

I claim:

1. For textile drafting and spinning frames, in combination with a roll stand having bearings for at least three lines of lower rolls, a cap bar and upper roll means thereon for coaction with the lower back roll, a front and intermediate upper roll assembly including a cradle unitarily supporting the upper front and next adjacent upper roll in tandem relation, means defining a fixed fulcrum below the lower rolls, a loading arm having fulcral engagement with the fulcrum means, and latch means releasably connecting the cradle and the loading arm.

2. For textile drafting and spinning frames having front, intermediate and back roll pairs, at front and intermediate upper roll assembly unit for each line of draft, each such unit comprising carrier plates spaced axially of the rolls, aligned open-top hearings on the plates for the hubs of individual front and intermediate top rolls, cross members uniting the plates, a hook-latch pendent at the lower central portion of the plates for applying a load to the unit, front and rear cover elements pivoted on the carrier plates and overlying the respective roll bearings thereof, and interengaging means on the cover elements for locking them in roll-retaining relation.

3. In combination with the table and roll stands of a textile drafting and spinning frame having at least three pairs of drafting rolls, bearings on the stand for the lower rolls, cap bars pivoted on the stand carrying upper back roll means for a plurality of lines of draft, and for each line of draft a front and intermediate top roll assembly unit comprising a cradle having relatively fixed bearing formations for said front and intermediate top rolls and separate loading means for each cradle unit.

a. A top roll and apron assembly unit for draft ng and spinning frames comprising a cradle including elongated side members connected in laterally spaced relation and having near their opposite ends open bearings for top roll hubs, lower central load-attaching formations on the side members, positioning means on the side members between the roll bearings for top and bottom apron extenders, a pair of cover elements pivoted on and spanning the side members and having portions respectively overlying the roll bearings to lock the rols in the cradle, and mutually engageable latch and shoulder formations on the cover elements for securing them in roll locking relation in the installed position of the parts.

5. A top roll assembly unit for draftin and spinning frames comprising a cradle including elongated side members connected in laterally spaced relation and having near their opposite ends open bearings for top roll hubs, a cross piece connecting the lower central portions of the side members, a hook-latch hung on the cross piece for application of loading means thereto, and a roll-retaining element for each roll bearing, said elements pivoted on the cradle side members for movement between roll-retaining and releasing positions and havin interengaging portions for mutually holding them in retaining position in the operative loaded status of the unit.

6. In a textile drafting and spinning frame having stands for front, intermediate and back pairs of drafting rolls, two top clearer rolls and duplex holder means therefor comprising a pair of spring strip members having each a base portion received on the stand and front and rear legs resiliently engageable respectively in front of the hubs of said top clearer rolls, one of the latter commonly engaging the top intermediate drafting roll and the top back drafting roll.

7. In a textile drafting and spinning frame having stands for front, intermediate and back pairs of drafting rolls, a quadruple set of rotary clearer elements for said roll pairs including a bottom front clearer roll and holder means therefor comprising a pair of resilient strip members having each a stand-attaching foot, an upwardly projecting arm and an open bearin at the upper end of the arm, a clearer roll for an intermediate and the back bottom drafting rolls and a pair of holder members therefor each having a foot for mounting on the stand and an elevated arm terminating in a rearwardly open bearing for said intermediate and back bottom clearer roll, and two top clearer rolls and duplex holder means therefor comprising a pair of spring strip members having each a base portion received on the stand and front and rear legs resiliently engageable respectively in front of th hubs of said top clearer rolls, one of the latter commonly engaging the top intermediate drafting roll and the top back drafting roll.

8. A cradle for a textile drafting and spinning frame comprising a pair of laterally spaced carrier plates each including relatively fixed front. rear and lower central portions, cross connections at said rear and lower central portions, laterally aligned open top bearings in the front and the rear plate portions for front and next adjacent top rolls respectively, and aligned seating formations for upper and lower apron extenders on the side plates forwardly of the midpoint between the roll bearings.

9. For textile drafting and spinning frames, a front and intermediate top roll assembly unit comprising a vertically open cradle-like carrier having transversely aligned pairs of bearing slots for the hubs of the front and the intermediate top rolls respectively, and roll retainers mounted on the carrier for movement between roll locking and releasing positions, one retainer pivoted forward of the front roll bearing slot and extending rearwardly thereover in the locking position, the other retainer pivoted closely forward of the intermediate roll bearing slot and having a rear portion overlying said slot in the locking position, and a projecting portion on one retainer adapted to latch over a seating portion of the other retainer thereby to secure them in the roll locking position.

10. An assembly unit according to claim 9 wherein the carrier is formed with a seating recess for apron extenders at a location between the roll bearing slots and nearer to that for the front roll, and the retainer for the front roll bearing slots is adapted to overlie and retain the extenders in said recess.

11. An assembly unit according to claim 9 wherein the retainer which has the latching proportion with a cross member near the bottom r portion with a cross member near the bottom thereof, and a guide formation on the cross member for cooperation with a stationary guide.

14. An assembly unit according to claim 9 wherein the carrier has a cross-extending U- member presenting a thread guide closely behind 15 the front top roll position.

EDWARD G. WHI'I'IAKER.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Number Name Date 880,007 Brown Feb. 25, 1908 2,160,545 Honda May 30, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 674,084 Germany Apr. 4, 1939 

